Donkeys, elephants: Show your support s Convention could draw other events to Greeley

They aren’t the 18th-century Brits; don’t run for your rifle. Greeley’s residents — even the Republicans — should welcome them.

Whether you’re a donkey or elephant, red or blue, the state Democratic Party’s announcement to hold its 2006 general assembly at Greeley’s Island Grove Regional Park is good news.

An estimated 3,000-6,000 people will fill Greeley May 19-21. They’ll be staying at area hotels, eating at area restaurants, buying gas at area stations and shopping with area merchants.

Consider this: Pueblo pulled in an estimated $750,000 when the Democrats’ rally was held there last year. Greeley’s take will probably be less because there won’t be a presidential election campaign, but the area economy is still expected to get about $500,000.

Possibly the most important thing the state’s Democrats will do is see Greeley, that’s right, Greeley, the city many of them have never visited, or maybe never wanted to visit. The assembly will be another opportunity for residents to show the state what we have here.

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The Greeley Ice Haus should be finished. The downtown’s brick streets, retro buildings and outdoor patios will be on display. Visitors will walk from the Best Western Regency Hotel, 701 8th St., to the Union Colony Civic Center, 501 N. 14th Ave., and take shuttles to the Island Grove Events Center. They’ll look at Greeley, the real Greeley.

If we do this right, they’ll be back.

When President Bush visited Greeley instead of Fort Collins, the whole nation saw our city. That event proved we could handle the big time with class. So, when the Democrats come, let’s prove that the presidential visit wasn’t a fluke. After all, more events equal more business and well-run events lead to more events.

Area business owners, the Greeley Chamber of Commerce and Weld County Democrats Ray Peterson and Pam Shaddock worked hard to put Greeley’s winning proposal together. They took pictures, gathered information and led a city tour to showcase the best of Greeley.

They got the committee here, now it’s up to the rest of us to support the effort when the entire assembly comes. Show the rest of the state why we we live in Greeley.